Welcome to the home page of Sea
Scout Ship (S.S.S.) Nautilus (461). We are sponsored by the
Zion Mennonite Church of Souderton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
We
are a relatively new addition to both Scouting and the Sea Scout Fleet and are
still in the process of getting our "sea legs," so to speak.

About Sea Scouting . . .

Sea Scouts are a division of the
Boy Scouts of America and have been existence since 1912. In fact, the
first Sea Scout units were founded that year in Boston and Philadelphia.
As the name implies, Sea Scouts have a nautical emphasis as opposed to the
land-based emphasis of traditional Boy Scout units. That nautical emphasis
can take the shape of sailing, canoeing, motor boating, kayaking, scuba diving,
or a combination of all of the above. In addition, Sea Scouts can
participate in all of the events and activities that are traditionally
associated with Boy Scouts.

Sea Scouts are an older youth
division of the Boy Scouts of America, an equivalent of the Venturing program,
and serve youth fourteen (14) to twenty (20) years of age. Youth age
thirteen (13) years may become a Sea Scout if the youth has completed the eighth
(8th) grade. Like Venturing, Sea Scouts may be co-educational, involving
both male and female members. Thus, Sea Scout units may choose to be all
male, all female, or co-educational. Naturally, co-educational units are
required to have registered adult leaders of both sexes.

Boy Scout units are referred to as
"Troops," Cub Scout units are referred to as "Packs," Venturing units are
referred to as "Crews," while Sea Scout units are called "Ships."
A Sea Scout Ship that is large enough to have one or more smaller units is
broken up into "Crews," which is the Sea Scout equivalent of a Boy Scout
"patrol." One of
the hallmarks of both Venture Crews and Sea Scout Ships is that the units are
youth-led. The Ship elects its own leaders and plans its own activities.
The adult leaders of the Ship are present in an advisory role so as to ensure
the safety of the Ship's members and to ensure that the activities of the Ship
comport with the guidelines set forth by the Boy Scouts of America. The
top youth petty officer of the Ship is called a "Boatswain," which is the equivalent
of a Senior Patrol Leader for a Boy Scout Troop or a Crew President for a
Venture Crew. The Ship's Purser handles the Ship's finances while the
Ship's Storekeeper is in charge of the Ship's equipment. The Boatswain
usually has two (2) assistants, called "Boatswain's Mates," who are usually
tasked with being responsible for program or administrative functions. The
Ship's petty officers are assisted in their duties by the Skipper, Mates and members
of the Ship Committee.

Sea Scout uniforms are similar to
those worn by the United States Navy. The dress whites have "Sea Scouts,
B.S.A." on the right breast at the level of where a pocket would be and blue Sea
Scout insignia are on the flap of the jumper. On the left sleeve is either
the community strip or the Council Shoulder Patch with the Ship's number located
beneath. The officer's badge of rank is sewn below the Ship's number.
The dress blues are the Navy blue jumper and pants but with only two (2) white
stripes on the collar and sleeve cuff. The notation "Sea Scouts, B.S.A."
in white letters is on the right breast similar to on the white jumper and the
Council Shoulder Patch or community strip, Ship number, and officer's badge, if
any, are on the left sleeve. For work details and other activities, Sea Scouts use a chambray
or denim shirt with blue insignia and blue jeans.

Sea Scout adult leaders wear
uniforms similar to U.S. Navy officers, but with the distinctive Sea Scout
touch that distinguishes Sea Scout leaders from naval officers.

Sea Scout Ships are also
self-funded. The funds for operating the Ship, planning and going on
activities, and acquiring and maintaining equipment is all raised by the Ship.
While some funds are raised by dues, the majority of the funds come from
fund-raising activities planned, managed, and executed by the Ship's members.
In addition to funds necessary for operations of the unit, the Ship also must
raise sufficient funds to operate and maintain its boats, which costs include registration,
insurance, upkeep and maintenance.

Not every Sea Scout Ship has a
boat or other vessel, nor does it have to. Some Ships use boats owned and
maintained by adult leaders or other persons associated with the Ship or the
Ship's sponsor. For special events or cruises, Ships may rent or charter
vessels that have capabilities or capacities that a Ship's own vessels lack.

About Ship 461 . . .

Ship 461 was chartered by the Boy
Scouts of America as of 1 October 2012. While we sponsored by the same
organization as is BSA
Troop 461 and share some members and adult leaders with the Troop, we are a
separate and distinct BSA unit. Ship 461 is part of the
General Nash
District which serves the North Penn and Souderton Area School Districts.
The General Nash District is one of a number of Districts that make up the
Cradle of Liberty Council. The Cradle of Liberty Council serves Delaware,
Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.
Ship 461 is one of only six (6) Sea Scout Ships in the entire Cradle of Liberty
Council. The six Ships in the Cradle of Liberty Council form the Cradle of
Liberty Sea Scout Squadron. Neighboring Bucks County and Chester County Councils have only
one (1) Sea Scout Ship each. As a result, Squadron, Flotilla, and Regional events
take on added significance for Sea Scouts.

Ship 461 is also part of the
Delaware Valley Flotilla,
which is comprised of Sea Scout Ships from Southeastern Pennsylvania, Central
and South New Jersey, and Delaware. The Delaware Valley Flotilla is one of
five (5) Flotillas that comprise the Northeast Region of the Boy Scouts of America.

Ship 461 is sponsored by the
Zion Mennonite Church, located at 149
East Cherry Lane in Souderton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. We are
northwest of the City of Philadelphia in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Our
sponsor, Zion Mennonite Church, has sponsored a Boy Scout Troop beginning in
1936 and has sponsored Boy Scout Troop 461, continuously since
1956. In the past, Zion Mennonite Church has sponsored a Cub Scout Pack as
well as an Explorer Post. Our sponsor provides us with a place to meet and
with a place to store some of our smaller equipment.

Our Ship is relatively small at
this time, which is not surprising since we are just starting our voyage into
Sea Scouting. We drew our initial crew members from the older Scouts of
Troop 461 and many of our adult leaders also served with the Troop. We
have since expanded our crew and adult leadership membership to individuals
outside of that Troop. A few of our Ship crew members are dual registered
as Boy Scouts and remain active with their respective Troops as well as with the Ship.
Sea Scouts who are dual registered as Boy Scouts, or who have attained the rank
of First Class Scout as a Boy Scout before becoming a Sea Scout, may still work towards
earning their Eagle Scout Award and earn merit badges as well as qualify for the
Scout ranks of Star and Life Scout. A Sea Scout must
complete the Eagle Scout requirements prior to the Sea Scout's 18th birthday.
Sea Scouts are also eligible to earn all of the Venturing awards, including the
Venturing Bronze, Gold, and Silver Awards. Girls may be dual registered as
both Sea Scouts and Girl Scouts and continue to work towards their Girl Scout
Gold Award while also being Sea Scouts and earning Sea Scout awards.

During the summer months, the Ship
meets on Sunday afternoons at the Lake Nockamixon Marina at 1200 for a short
business meeting and then either sailing, motor boating, or both. During
the rest of the year, the Ship meets on Thursday evenings at the Zion Mennonite
Church in Souderton beginning at 1930. We meet either in the Fellowship
Hall of the church or in the church library, depending upon what other
activities are going on at the church that particular evening.